DATA CENTERS
40,000 acres of audacity
What’s bigger than Manhattan, generates 23 atom bombs’ worth of energy, and is backed by a reality TV star?
Answer: Utah’s new data center.
The Stratos Project is set to become the world’s largest AI data facility at 40,000 acres. Lead investor, Kevin O’Leary – aka: Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful – says it will establish American AI dominance. Box Elder County residents say, not on their watch.
It took less than five months to greenlight the project. Once word got out, thousands of citizens filed formal complaints and hundreds showed up to the commission meeting. Commissioner Boyd Bingham's response? "For hell's sake, grow up."
It’s easy to paint these protests as anti-AI. But it’s not that black and white.
What the locals are actually fighting:
Heat: temperatures up roughly 2–5°F (1–3°C) during the day and 8–12°F (4–7°C) at night
Energy: including 30.2 million tons of CO2 annually, a 55% spike in Utah’s emissions
Water: data centers use over 5M gallons per day and increase air toxins in the process
It’s not over... yet
As of right now, the people still have power. Or at least a fighting chance. The pending citizen referendum could overturn The Status Project approval.
And Utah isn’t the only battleground. Public pushback is rippling across the US, as residents of Virginia, Maine, Texas, New Jersey, and others draw lines in the sand.
The target may be rural America, but the playbook is straight from Silicon Valley.
Move fast and break things.
I like roller coasters, but not in my backyard. You know what I mean? - TL